(Ashland, Ore.) — After a nationwide search, three finalists have been named in the search for a new president of Southern Oregon University. The finalists were recommended to the SOU board of trustees by the Presidential Search Committee, which was comprised of key members of both internal and external constituent groups, including, but not limited to, the board of trustees; SOU faculty, staff, alumni, and students; an Oregon public university president; and members of the Rogue Valley community.
Each of the three finalists will visit Southern Oregon to meet with various SOU constituent groups as well as hold town hall-style forums that will be open to the public.
The third of the finalists to arrive on campus will be Dr. Linda Schott, who is scheduled to be in the Rogue Valley June 2 and 3. Schott currently serves as president of University of Maine at Presque Isle. She holds a doctorate in history and humanities from Stanford University, a master’s degree in history, also from Stanford, and a bachelor’s degree in history from Baylor University.
Prior to her role as president of University of Maine at Presque Isle, Schott held various positions in higher education teaching and administration, including dean of the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Fort Lewis College; associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, and numerous faculty appointments.
The public will have an opportunity to meet and ask questions of Schott during an open forum on June 2 at 3:30 p.m. The forum will take place in Room 151 inside the Science Building on SOU’s main campus in Ashland.
“We are hoping that not only our campus community, but the entire Rogue Valley will want to be involved in this process and meet these candidates,” said Bill Thorndike, chair of the SOU board of trustees. “We will be soliciting feedback from all who attend, and that input is very important in our decision making process.”
The other two finalists, Dr. Michael Tidwell and Dr. Terry Allison previously visited the Rogue Valley on May 25-26 and June 1-2, respectively. More information on the search and the candidates is available at presidentialsearch.sou.edu.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized campus that provides comprehensive educational opportunities with a strong focus on student success and intellectual creativity. Located in vibrant Ashland, Oregon, SOU remains committed to diversity and inclusion for all students on its environmentally sustainable campus. Connected learning programs taught by a host of exceptional faculty provide quality, innovative experiences for students. Visit sou.edu.